Kate Morton, a great contemporary writer

Hi, There!,

Do you know KATE MORTON? Have you ever read one of her famous novels? 

Well, in my humble opinion, undoubtedly she is one of the best contemporary writers. K. Morton, born in 1976 in Australia, has written: The House at Riverton (2006), The Forgotten Garden (2008) and The Distant Hours (2010). All her novels have become best-sellers all over the world! 

From her early childhood, she loved reading books, especially those written by Enid Blyton. She grew up in Queensland (Australia) and after attending school, she studied a Licentiate in Speech and Drama from Trinity college in London. At the same time, Kate enrolled in a degree in English Literature at the University of Queensland, graduating with First Class Honors. On that basis, she won a scholarship and could complete a Masters degree focusing on tragedy in Victorian literature. 

Because of that, we could find many Gothic elements in her novels, since she is very enthusiastic of Bronte sisters, Dickens, Daphne du Marier, Poe or Lucy Clifford.

Therefore, I recommend reading her fantastic novels, all the characters are connected mixing current and past events, all her books are really entertaining and well-written. So, when you read an English novel, you can enjoy it and learn new vocabulary, don't you think so? 

I hope we'll never stop reading :)

Bruno Mars

Hi, Girls!,

I know that you like him, BRUNO MARS, who is one of the most popular American singer-songwriter in the world. He's gorgeous, isn't he? 

Bruno Mars, or better said, Peter Gene Hernández, was born on 8th October in 1985, in Honolulu (Hawaii). He grew up in a very musical family, since his father was a percusionist whereas his mother was a singer. By late 2000s, he became successful by writing songs for other popular artists such as K'Naan's "Waving Flag", the theme song for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The same year, 2010, he broke out as a singer with his hit "Nothin' on You". Then, he wrote another hit "Just The Way You Are". Would you like to listen to this now?

If you are more interested, click on here: Bruno Mars

Meryl Streep

HI, Guys!,

Today, I'd like to write about one of my favourite actress, MERYL STREEP, I love all her films, in my view, she is lovely, fantastic, chamaleonic, ... And according to many critics, she is a great actress of our time. 

Meryl Streep was born on 22nd June in New Jersey (1940). She graduated in Vassar College and Yale Drama School, not only she is able to perform drama or musicals on stage, but also on films. So, in 1960s, she appeared in several musical productions. In 1970s, she began appearing in films. From the very beginning, she earned many  Academy Awards, Golden Globe nominations and recognitions of her brilliant career as an actress.At this point, I would like to highlight some of the films starred by Meryl Streep.

 

1. She starred opposite Clint Eastwood The Bridges of Madison County in 1995. Thanks to her work, she received an Academy Award nomination.

2. Due to her role as the magazine editor Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada (2006), she got and Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress.

3. In 2008, she performed Donna in the film adaptation of the ABBA's musical Mamma Mia! We could enjoy her performance, her dance, her voice. (I love it, this film is so fun!)

4. It's Complicated, a recommendable comedy. She earned a Golden Globe.

5. In 2001, The Iron Lady where Meryl Streep performed the British prime minister, Margaret Thacher. Thanks to this role, she has recently won an Academy Award.

Now, I encourage you to watch one of her films, I'm sure you'll enjoy!!! :)

Whitney Houston, the great voice

Hi, there!,

I'm quite shocked, Whitney Houston, one of the best singers in the world has recently died. Needless to say that she was one of my favourite singer, and I started learning English translating her songs at the language school. Maybe, most of you will never forget her lovely song "I Will Always Love You" and of course, her wonderful voice. 

Whitney Houston was born in 1963 and when she was 11, she began singing in her junior gospel choir in her church in New Jersey. Furthermore, Whitney and her mother sang together in New York city clubs. She released seven albums and sold million of them, undoutedly, she was a great singer, her godmother was Aretha Franklin. 

Besides, she was an actress. Actually, Whitney starred "The Bodyguard", "Waiting to Exhale" and "The Prieacher's Wife". She also recorded their wellknown soundtracks, among others, since Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey sang together in 1998 and they recorded "When You Believe", the main theme of the film "The Prince of Egypt".

Now, do you fancy listening one of her most famous singles?

ADELE, a wellknown English singer-songwriter

Hi, Guys!

Adele, is a wellknown English singer- songwriter. How did she break into music world? Well, she recorded some demos and one of her friends posted them on MySpace in 2006. Two years later, she won the Brit Awards "Critics' Choice" and she could release her first album called 19. It was successful, but at the same time, 19 was too commercial according to some experts.

In 2011, her new album 21 was released and it was far far successful. One of her two most famous songs "Rolling In the Deep" and "Someone Like You" have beaten many records!!! 

I wish we would keep on listening to her beautiful voice and songs :)

I'm sure you'll enjoy these songs as much as me, let's listen to "Someone Like You".

"Never mind, I'll find someone like you, I wish nothing but the best for you too, ... sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead..."

Sherlock Holmes lives in 21st century

Hi, Guys!, 

Sherlock TV serie has presented a contemporary update of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories about Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. This British serie was created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss and it has received a great critic by the audience. The most striking point is the fact that Sherlock Holmes can use modern technology (such as internet, GPS, ...) to find things out. 

However, there are some traditional remained elements, for example: the protagonists still live in 221B, Baker Street in London;  Moriarty as Sherlock's great enemy; Dr Watson has just come back from Afganistan War.

The main characters are starred by Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Doctor John Watson. 

Holmes was a famous peculiar consultive detective, he had a great logical reasoning, he loved disguising, and he had some forensic knowledge. His creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, wrote Holmes and Watson's adventures from 1880 to 1914, and published several novels as well as some short stories in Strand Magazine, and Holmes character became more and more popular. Doctor Watson was the narrator, Holmes's chronicler, a good friend and he always helped Holmes in his cases. 

I've always found this character so peculiar, talented, entertaining, ... that I recommend you to read and watch all Holmes's stories, films and TV series. 

Sarah Jessica Parker

Hi, there!,

Sarah Jessica Parker is undoubtedly one of the most famous women in the world, her image is always impecably chic due to her character Carrie Bradshow in the wellknown sitcom Sex and the City. Nevertheless, her beginnings were difficult...


SJP was born on 25th March in 1965 in Ohio. She grew up in a relatively poverty. From the very beginning, she trained in singing and ballet, and was soon cast in Broadway. In 1977 - 1981, Sarah was elected for a role in the Broadway musical Annie.


Afterwards, she appeared on the American sitcom Square Pegs, and later, on films such as Footlose or Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. In 1998,Sarah Jessica Parker starred Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City.

Thanks to her leading role, she won an Emmy Award and four Golden Globe Awards. There are also two films like sequel parts, after the TV serie, these were released in 2008 Sex and the City and in 2010 Sex and the City 2.

Now, SJP has her own perfume Lovely, as well as her fashion line called Bitten.

On May 1997, she married the actor Mattew Broderick. They've got three children and live in West Village in Manhattan (New York). She is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the United States.


If you are more interested, click on here and watch this video about
Sarah Jessica Parker Biography - Biography.com

The SpiCe GiRLs

Hi, there!,

Do you remember this pop group? When I was a teenager, my classmates and I loved dancing as these Spice Girls, they became really famous due to their songs such as "Wannabe".

This English group was created in 1994, the members of the group until 1998 were Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. Thanks to "Wannabe" in 1996, the Spice Girls became a global phenomenon very quickly. This pop group have sold so many records that they have done the best selling girl group of all time.

In 1998, Geri Halliwell left the spice Girls. The four remaining girls released the third album called Forever,, but they separated in 2000. Seven years later, the Spice Girls decided to get back and start a world tour and release their Greatest Hits. It was an amazing success too.

Let's listen and see these successful videos, The Spice Girls singing "WANNABE"!!





Now, if you are more interested in The Spice Girls, click on: http://www.thespicegirls.com/

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 - 1894)

Hi, Guys!,

Have you read The Treasure Island? It's a great adventurous book written by Robert Louis Stevenson. Today, thanks to Google - doodle, we can remember this remarkable novelist, who was born in Edimburgh on 13th November in 1850.

Stenvenson was an essayist, poet and author of fiction and travel books such The Treasure Island. Thanks to this novel, Stevenson gained fame. The main characters are Jim Hawkins, a young boy, who meets an old pirate, Billy Bones, who shows him a misterious map which points out the Captain Flint's treasure. I enjoyed reading this novel, but I prefer The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, also written by the same novelist and published in 1886. I recommend you to read these exciting books.

Tracy Chapman

Hi, there!,

Have you ever heard about TRACY CHAPMAN? She's one of my favourite singers, thanks to my cousin, I could listen to her beautiful songs and special voice many years ago.

Tracy was born in 1964, she is an American singer song-writer, she won Grammy Awards several times; she became wellknwon due to her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin'about Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories".

When she was 8, she started writing songs and could play the guitar. Thanks to her talent, she was accepted into the program A Better Chance. This let her attend Wooster School and then, Tufts University. Tracy got graduated with B.A. degree in Anthropology and African studies.

at last, but not least, let's listen to these songs! I hope you'll like them!

Mc Fly

Hi, Guys!,

McFly is a pop rock band from United Kingdom. The group consists of Tom Fletcher (vocalist and guitarrist), Danny Jones (vocalist and guitarrist too), Dougie Poynter (backing vocalist and plays the bass guitar) and Harry Judd who plays drums.

In 2004, McFly released their first album called Room on the 3rd Floor and it debuted at number 1 in UK album chart. The second album Wonderland was released in 2005, and also, it soon became the number 1. The third album Motion in the Ocean was released in 2006. The fourth album was Radio: Active in 2008.

Now, let's listen to one of the most wellknown songs, I hope you'll enjoy it!






PS. To my dearest students, I hope you'll be happier now! Listening to music is a perfect way to improve your English!!! Let's listen again: "Falling in Love"

Céline Dion

Hi, there!,

First of all, I'd like to say that CÉLINE DION is one of my favourite singer, I love singing "I'm Your Angel" or "A New Day Has Come", because of its beautiful lyrics, because of her great voice. So, I encourage you to listen to one of her wonderful songs, they are simply gorgeous! Céline Dion was born in Quebec (Canada) on 30th March in 1968. She was actually a French teen star until her manager and future husband René Angélil helped her to release her album Unison. Thanks to this, she became well-known in many English-speaking countries.

It was followed by the albums "The Colour of My Love" (1993) and "Deux" (1995).

In 1996 the Grammy-winning album "Falling Into You" made her more popular. In 1998, she became more famous due to her album "Let's Talk About Love" including "My Heart Will Go On," the soaring theme to romantic drama Titanic. After being retired, somehow imposed, somehow voluntary, Dion released "A New Day" including great songs such as "I'm alive".

In 2001, she gave birth her first son. Now, she is going to have twins, and agian, she is retired in Florida. It is expected that she will appear again in Las Vegas (15th March 2011).

To Juanmi, good luck and I hope your dreams will come true! "No mountains too high for you to climb..."

LaDy GaGa, Orignal Singer, Outstanding Performance

Hi, Guys!,

LaDy GaGa is regarded as one of the most influential people in the world, her original style, her great voice, her different genres in her albums make Lady Gaga an amazing artist! Not only she sings well, but also she performs outstanding videos and concerts.

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta was born on March 28th, 1986. Her debut album The Fame was released in August, 2008. Very soon, The Fame became successful and she sold many copies around the world. Last year, she recorded her second studio album The Fame Monster including her wellknown song Bad Romance.

Lady Gaga chose this artistic name because of Freddie Mercury and Queen's song "Radio Ga Ga". She got inspiration from great singers such as David Bowie, Queen, Madonna, Michael Jackson and Britney Spears.

If you are more interested, click on here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Gaga

Now, why don't we listen to LaDy GaGa's best hits?
BAD ROMANCE and ALEJANDRO

Audrey Hepburn

Hi, there!,

Since I love this extraordinary actress so much, I've just decided to write about her, about AUDREY HEPBURN.

Undoubtedly, Audrey Hepburn is a significant icon of HOLLYWOOD, FASHION and HUMANITARISM.

In 1935, when her parents got divorce, she was living in Netherlands with her mother. When the German invasion and occupation of World War II, she changed her name because an "English-sounding" name was considered dangerous. From that moments onwards, she suffered from malnutrition and developed constant health problems.

After the war, Audrey and her mother moved to London, where she studied ballet. She worked as a model, and in 1951, began acting in films, mostly in minor or supporting roles as Audrey Hepburn. She got into acting mainly to make money.

After that, Audrey was offered a starring role opposite Gregory Peck in the Hollywood motion picture, Roman Holiday. For her performance, she won the 1953 Academy Award for Best Actress. She also starred: Breakfast at Tiffany's, My fair Lady, How to Steal a Million and Robin and Marian. Audrey's last film role, a cameo appearance, was of an angel in Steven Spielberg's Always, filmed in 1988.

Audrey Hepburn, maybe due to her difficult poor childhood, she became a great ambassador of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
At last, but no least, let's watch and listen these videos taken from two famous films:
BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S and ROMAN HOLIDAY.







PS. To my brother who is always talking about her films, he looks up Audrey Hepburn so much.

If you're more interested, click on here:
http://www.audreyhepburn.com/menu/index.php